In Trenton, an Easter tale

Jesus walked into a South Broad Street store Easter Sunday, actually a produce market owned by former Trenton law director Mark McKithen, then reached into his pocket for change.

I missed on an immediate identification but his hand scars betrayed him. Jesus, who had been listed as a local resident by author Christopher Klim in his “Jesus Lives in Trenton” novel, at the very least, visited New Jersey’s capital city about 11 a.m.

Jesus turned left out of the store then made a similar turn into a storefront church called Mosaic Baptist Church. He vanished into a sea of smiles and faces, a church room unlike most others in the City of Trenton.

There were African Americans, EuroAmericans, Haitians, Asians; such diversity that I almost broke into a personal bad version of Eric Burdon’s “Spill the Wine.”

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“There was long ones, tall ones, short ones, brown ones.”

Out of the middle of this wonderful diversity came Pastor Lance Walker, who guides Faith Baptist Church in Hamilton.

Church members there had prayed for a new mission that would convene a spectrum of people, stitched together by shared religious beliefs anchored by love.

I kept a lookout for Jesus but continued finding him only in the eyes and faces of Mosaic Baptist Church members, a Lockheed-Martin employee; a couple from Dutch Neck; a woman who delivered such vocal ability that birds stopped to listen.

A feeling came over me to stand and shout “Jesus is in the house!”

Visits to area churches had produced such segregated audiences that I had forgotten how incredible and powerful love is when persons of various ethnic backgrounds congregate for worship.

A recent national poll identified America’s concern with politicians speaking about God. Thirty-eight percent said leaders talk too much about their religious beliefs.

I have a difficult time listening to politicians mix their work with God’s desires. Politicians work in compromise while rules distributed to humans allow no wiggle room.

Despite many Trenton movements away from God and love, Walker started a city ministry.

“This new church would seek to tell God’s story by having diversity within its unity. In short, it would be a fellowship of Jesus followers that make it all about grace, not race!,” Walker wrote.

Perhaps, but after years of being witness to one-color congregations it felt wonderfully refreshing to see a church group that represented worldwide worship.

“We decided that Easter morning would be the perfect date to have our first worship service. So we asked the Lord to bring `new life’ into downtown Trenton on the very day He brought `new life’ to the world,” Walker continued.

Walker’s words connected with my home church — New Life Christian Center where Pastor Willie Granville preaches a doctrine of love.

Walker saved one soul following a powerful sermon that connected with scars of life, mercy and grace.

Jesus walked out with one more victory than the New York Yankees.

L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@Trentonian.com.